Pope Leo XIV has sent a congratulatory message to Sungsimdang, a well-known bakery in the central city of Daejeon, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of its founding, the bakery said Thursday. In the message, the pope extended his blessings and praised the bakery for its long-standing commitment to promoting fraternal solidarity and supporting the civic and church communities, particularly the most marginalized. He also encouraged the bakery to continue such "remarkable" activities, according to the bakery. The message, signed by the pope, was delivered by Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik during his visit to Korea last month, it added. Sungsimdang, which started out as a small bakery near Daejeon Station in 1956, is known for its commitment to supporting the local community and donating bread to those in need.